Liquid dispensing apparatus



Aug. "2, 1932. H. E. DOBSON LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1931 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. DOBSON, NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Application filed Iarch 2, 1981. Serial No. 519,391.

The objects of this invention are to provide simple, practical and eflicient apparatus for dispensing gasoline or other liquids and in particular to provide a visible supply metering system, which will accurately measure the liquid delivered from the visible supply, automatically releasing entrained air, trapping out condensation and dirt and automatically relieving pressure in the visible bowl when delivery is completed.

Other desirable objects and the novel fea-.'

tures of construction, combinations and relations of parts by which the objects are attained will appear from the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates one commercial embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the structure may be modified as regards this present disclosure, without departure from the true spirit and broad scope of the invention. Fig.1 is a front elevation of a delivery stand constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the stand taken through the center of the visible supply bowl; Fig. 3 is a further enlarged broken sectional detail of the air relief valve as taken on substantially the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a broken sectional detail showingparticularly the valve face construction; Fig. 5 is a broken part sectional detail of the valve structure.

In Fig. 1, a pump stand is indicated at 5, differing from both the conventional visible supply and the meter stand, in that instead of being one or the other of these types, it has both a visible supply bowl 6 and a meter 7.

The bowl furthermore dilfers rom the usual visible supply bowl, in that it is not a medium for measurement but provides a receiver for the liqud supply to be-delivered through the meter to the point of liquid discharge. It also provides a separator for air and liquid, an automatically operating air cushion for maintain ng a uniform-pressure on the meter during the pumping operation .and contains a float 8 operating within a verone of the stay bolt lugs 15 of the cover.

tical guide 9 and connected by a pivoted link 10, with one arm 11 of a bell crank type of valve lever, whose other arm 12 carries an air vent controlling valve member. This air vent is shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, as a passage 13, formed in the top cover 14 of the globe or bowl, communicating at the inside with the interior of'the bowl and opening downwardly at the outside through The valve lever is shown as pivoted on a bolt 16, carried by a supporting member 17, in the nature of a lug secured to or dependent from the cover and having a continuation of the vent passage formed therein as shown at 13', extending down through the top of the lug and out through that face of the same on which the valve lever is mounted. This side of the supporting lug is faced off to provide a valve seat 18 surrounding the air relief port, a table or track 19, in the same plane with this valve seat and, in this particular illustration, a supporting face 20 for the valve, all three of these faces being finished off in the same plane and hence capable of all being formed at the same time. This purpose of the track face 19 is to provide a supporting. surface for the valve element as it travels back and uncovers the valve port and hence this track face is shown as of generally arcuate configuration extending as an are drawn from the pivotal center of the valve and of a cross extent as wide as the valve seat. To permit the valve element to engage on its seat independently of the supporting track, the track is shown as separated from the seat by an annular groove 21 cut through the track, about the rim of the annular valve seat 18.

The valve element is shown as a hollow cup shaped piece 22, loosely confined in a pocket 23 provided in the end of the valve lever arm 12 and thrust toward the valve seat by a spring 24. housed in the valve cup and engaging the back of the pocket in the valve lever. This pocket is shown as ported at 25 to admit pressure to the valve cup for sealing the same against the valve seat in the closed relation. The loose fit of the valve element in the pocketmakes'the same selfaligning. The face of the valve cup is shown as sunk in the center at 26 to leave a narrow annular valve surface for sliding engagement over the annular valve seat surface 18 and along the track surface 19, this structure keeping friction down to a minimum and at the same time assuring accuracy of fit on the valve seat.

To limit the valve opening and closing movements and the rising and fall ng movements of the float as well, the valve lever is shown as forked in the elbow thereof at 27 -to receive a stop lug 28, projecting from the face of the support, which thus acts to limit the throw of the lever. The guide tube 9 is shown as fitted over a well projection 29 rising from the bottom of the globe structure, the tube being indicated as slotted at 30 above this annular projection to admit the liquid from the annular surrounding portion of the globe. These slots, it will be noted, terminate at a relatively high level, so as to provide an annular precipitation chamber 31, below the level 32.

The circulation will be clear from Fig. 1, wherein a supply pipe is shown at 33 in communication with a motor driven pump 34, which forces liquid through piping 35 up into the bottom of the globe and through a stand pipe 36 which carries in the illustration an annular inlet pipe or ring 37 surrounding the float tube and perforated or slotted at 38 to stream the liquid down into the annular precipitation chamber surrounding the float chamber. To prevent condensation and impurities from being carried by the flow into the central well, an outwardly inclined guard or skirt 50 may be provided about the guide tube covering the inlet slots. This inclined guard, it will be seen, directs any'condensation and precipitates outwardly and downwardly away from the slots out of the influence of the stream, which is obliged to turn upwardly before it can enter the slots, it being noted that the guard extends down beyond the lower ends of such slots. Theoutflow is taken from the bottom of the central well-by piping 39 direct to meter chamber 40 from whence the flow is through piping 41 to the flexible hose or other dispensing connections 42. This dispensing hose is illustrated as equipped with a spring closed nozzle valve 43, which can be operated by, hand to deliver liquid in any desired quantities. A spring loaded relief valve 44 is indicated in Fig. 1 in a bypass 45, connected with the pressure side of the pump and leading by piping 46 back to the storage tank or other source of supply.

For drainage purposes, a line of piping 47 is shown connected into the bottom of" the annular precipitation chamber, which may be connected in on the return line 46 to storage at the far side of the relief valve and which is shown equipped with a valve 48, normally closed. On opening this'valve, it will be seen that the entire contents of the precipitation chamber may be drained to clear the bowl of condensation water or the collected matter and this without draining the central well, which keeps a head of liquid on the meter.

The structure illustrated is intended ordinarily to be used as a so-called wet hose installation and the usual mode of operation in such a construction is simply to start the pump, for instance, by means of a conveniently located switch on the pump stand and to then deliver the liquid in any desired quantities under control of the nozzle valve. The meter having the head of liquid on it and the hose being full at the time, the meter will show accurately the exact quantity of liquid delivered free from air and the purchaser will see the character and may observe the flow of liquid in the visible bowl. As the ,pump starts, the liquid will be flowed by the delivery ring downwardly in the precipitation chamber and as the capacity of the pump is intended to more than take care of the flow through the hose, the level of liquid in the globe will rise, lifting the float,closing off the air vent and trapping a body of air and gas in thetop of the bowl, which latter body thereupon assumes the properties of an air cushion quieting the flow of liquid in the bowl and maintaining an equalizing pressure on the meter. As soon as delivery is completed and the pump is shut oif, the liquid will drop back to the level of the delivery ring in the bowl, the lowering of the float thereby accomplished serving to open the slide valve and vent the bowl to atmosphere. The downwardly directed relief port guards the bowl against entrance of rain, etc., and the combining of this port with the bolt lug avoids the necessity of any objectionable protuberances.

The relief valve 44 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, is constructed with a vent or relief port 49 therein, which permits liquid in the bowl to drain back through the ports in the supply ring 37. piping 36, 35, and 46 after a liquid delivery operation. The closing spring of this valve is set so-as to open at the pressure at which it is desired to relieve the pump, at such times, for instance, as when the nozz e valve is closed without shutting off the pump.

The operation of the air relief valve is particularly smooth and easy, and at the same time, this valve securely seals the air chamber in the globe, the slidingoperation and the structure of the valve and valve seat being such as to keep these ports clear and in close fitting engagement.

It will. be seen that this invention provides the advantages of a meter delivery system primed and having an operating head thereon and the delivery operation being continuous and uninterrupted instead of intermittent.

The visible bowl provides an air separator for the liquid and an automatically operating air cushion for maintaining a proper pressure on the meter. The height of'the delivery ring determines the standing liquid level in the bowl, it being seen that upon stopping the pump, the liquid in the bowl will drain back through the supply ring and piping 36, 35, bypass 45 and the vent 49 in the relief valve into piping 46, back to storage. As indicated in Fig. 2, the perforations I'CI slots in the supply ring or coil are preferably angled outwardly so'as to direct the incoming liquid against the inside wall of the glass bowl, thus cleaning the bowl and carrying off any impurities to the bottom of the precipitation chamber. If, it is wished to thoroughly clean the bowl, the valve 48 may be opened to drain the precipitation chamber and the pump then be operated to flush oil the inner surface of the bowl and precipitation chamber, all this being accomplished without draining the liquid out of the well which is retained as a liquid seal for the meter, positively preventing air passing into the meter.

It will be evident that many changes in structure may be made within the scope of the invention and in particular, it will be noted that the meter may be arranged in any desired relation with the outlet side of the into said bowl, means for continuously withdrawing liquid from the bowl and including outlet flow connections, a liquid meter in said outlet flow connections, said bowl having a liquid body retaining outlet well connected with the meter--for maintaining a liquid head thereon and a precipitation chamber separate from said well and into which the liquid is delivered into the bowl, the air venting and cushioning means including a float and a. tubular guide for said float associated with the liquid welland forming a. division wall between the precipitation chamber and outlet well, said tubular guide having a liquid passage enabling communication between the chamber and well.

2. A continuous delivery visible supply and liquid metering dispensing system, comprising a visible bowl having air venting and air cushion trapping means therein, means for continuously supplying liquid into said bowl, means for continuously withdrawing liquid from the bowl and including outlet flow connections, a liquid meter in said outlet flow connections, said bowl having a central outlet well connected with the meter for maintaining a liquid head thereon, a. precipitatio-n chamber separate from said well and into which the liquid is delivered into the bowl, the air venting and cushioning means including a float and a guide tube for said float associated with the liquid well and the liquid supply connections to the bowl including a supply ring surrounding the float. guide and discharging into the precipitation chamber.

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a visible bowl liquid chamber havin a vent passage provided with an annular va ve seat, a rocking lever, a valve element carried by said valve lever into sliding engagement over said valve seat, a track surface for said valve element extended from one side of the valve seat and a float directly connected with said valve lever.

4. In apparatus of the character disclosed,

the combination of a pivoted lever having a pocket in the face of the same, a. valve cup loosely contained in said pocket with 1 ts closed end outermost, a sprin contained in said valve cup and engaging t e back of the valve pocket, a valve seat member having a port surrounded by an annular valve seat and provided with a valve guidlng track extending from one side'of the valve seat to slidingly support the valve cup in the rocking movement of the lever away from the valve seat and means for rocking said lever.

5. In apparatus of thecharacter d sclosed, the combination of a pivoted lever having a pocket in the face of the same, a valve cup loosely contained in said pocket wlth 1 ts closed end outermost, a spring contained in said valve cup and engaging the back of the valve pocket, a valve seat member having a port snrroundedby an annular valve seat and provided with a valve guiding track extending from one side of the valve seat to slidingly support the valve cup in the rocking movement of the lever away from the valve seat, means for rocking said lever including a float and the lever having an angularly extended arm to which said float is connected.

6. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combinaton of a pivoted lever having a pocket in the face of the same, a valve cup loosely contained in said pocket with its closed end outermost, a spring contained in said valve cap and engaging the back of the valve pocket, a valve seat member having a port surrounded by an annular valve seat and provided with a valve guiding track extendlng from one side of the valve seat to slidingly support the valve cup in the rocking movement of the lever away from the valve seat, means for rocking said lever including a float and the lever having an angularly extended arm to which'said float is connected, said lever having a bifurcated portion and a stationary stop lug received in the bifurcated portion of the lever.

7. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a pivoted lever having a pocket in the face of the same, a valve cup loosely contained in said pocket with its closed end outermost, a spring contained in said valve cup and engaging the back of the valve pocket, a valve seat member having 'a port surrounded by an annular valve seat and provided with a valve guiding track extendin from one side of the valve seat to sliding y support the valve cup in the rocking movement of the lever away from the valve seat, means for rocking said lever, the valve seat and guide surface forming continuations of the same plane surface and a groove be'ng provided in said surface separating said valve seat from the guiding surface.

8. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a pivoted lever having a pocket in the face of the same, a valve cup loosely contained in said pocket with its closed end outermost, a spring contained in said valve cup and engaging the back of the valve pocket, a valve seat member having a port surrounded by an annular valve seat and provided with a valve guiding track extending from one side of the valve seat to slidingly support the valve cup in the rocking movement of the lever away from the valve seat,

means for rocking said lever, the valve seat and guide surface forming continuations of the same plane surface, a groove being provided in said surface separating said valve seat from the guiding surface, and a pivot boss for the mounting of the lever and disposed also as a portion of the same plane.

9. Apparatus of the character disclosed, comprising in combination a visible bowl, a supply pipe discharging at a predetermined level in said'bowl, a float operatng in the bowl, an automatic air venting and air trapping valve actuated by said float for maintaining' an air cushion in the top of the bowl as the li uid rises above the predetermined level, a liquid drain connection extending from the supply pipe for automatically draining off the liquid down to the predetermined level within the bowl when lquid flow from the supply pipe ceases, a discharge line extending from the visible bowl and liquid metering means in said discharge line.

10. Apparatus of the character disclosed, comprising a liquid bowl having a liquid well and an annular'precipitation chamber surrounding said well, said well being in communication with the precipitation chamber above the bottom of the bowl to maintain a body of liquid in the well independently of the precipitation chamber, liquid supply connections discharging into the bowl in line with the precipitation chamber and a deflector inclined from the well outwardly into the precipitation chamber and covering the communication between the well and precipitation chamber to deflect condensation and precipitates away from the liquid well.

11. Apparatus of the character disclosed, comprising a visible bowl, an annular supply pipe supported at a predetermined level in the bowl and ported on downwardly and outwardly divergent angles to direct incoming li uid against the inner walls of the bowl, a disc arge well in the bottom of the globe and inside the range of direct d scharge from the annular supply pipe and an annular precipitation chamber surrounding said well, directly in line with and receiving the discharge from the annular supply pipe.

12. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a liquid receptacle having an air vent in the upper portion, a valve controlling said air vent, a float within the receptacle connected to actuate said valve, a tubular member extending up from the bottom of the receptacle about the float to serve as a guide therefor, said tubular member being slotted in the side of the same above the bottom of the receptacle to form within it a liquid well in communication through said slotted portion with the surroundingpart of the receptacle, a supply pipe having an annular portion surrounding the upper part of v ber to said meter. I

13. In liquid dispensing apparatus, th combination of a liquid receptacle having an air vent in the upper portion, a valve controlling said air vent, a float within the receptacle connected to actuate said valve, a tubular member extending up from the bottom of the receptacle about the float to serve as a guide therefor. said tubular member being slotted in the side of the same above the bottom 'of the receptacle to form within it a liquid well in communication through said slotted portion only with the surrounding part of the receptacle, a supply pipe having an annular portion surrounding the upper part of the tubular member, a meter and an outlet connection extending from the liquid well within the lower portion of the tubular member to said meter and means for enabling the draining of the chamber outside the tubular memberindependently of the meter and the aforesaid connection thereto.

14:. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a receptacle, means for automatically venting from and maintaining an air cushion in the top of said receptacle, a supply pipe discharglng at a predetermined level in said *receptacle, pump means connected to said supply pipe, a drain connection extending from the supply ipe at a point between the pump means and the receptacle,

a pressure relief valve in said drain connection and a vent forming part of said drain connection and adapted to drain liquid in the receptacle above the predetermined level back through said supply pipe and drain connection when the pump means is inoperative and means for draining oil liquid from the receptacle independently of said drain back.

In combination, a liquid holding receptacle, means for automatically venting from and maintaining an air cushion in the top of said receptacle, means for withdrawing liquid from the receptacle, a supply pipe discharging at a predetermined level in said liquid receptacle and a slow drain connected with said supply pipe for draining back excess liquid above the predetermined level in the receptacle through said supply pipe and drain connection.

- 16. Liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising in combination, an air separating receptacle, a partition within said receptacle separating the same into two chambers incommunication above the bottom of the recep tacle and below the top of the. partition, an

1 outlet connection extending from one of said chambers, a meter in said outlet connection,

liquid supply connections discharging into 35 the other chamber at a point above the bottom of the same, means for automatically venting air from and for maintaining an air cushion in the top portion of the receptacle, drain-back means for automatically maintaining a standing liquid level in the receptacle after each dispensing operation, liquid dispensing means included in the outlet connection and whereby metered quantities may be withdrawn at Will, a pump in the liquid suppl connections .and'adapted to furnish liqui at, a rate greater than the controlled discharge flow and thereby to cause the liquid to rise above the standing level and maintain the air cushion during liquid dispensing operations and said air'venting and air cushion maintaining means including anair venting valve and a float connected therewith which will automatically be lowered by the receding liquid level to vent the receptacle at the end of liquid dispensing operations and beforethe liquid has reached the standing liquid level and whereby the chamber in which the liquid is supplied willserve as a precipitation chamber with liquid standing no at a predetermined level therein and the communicating chamber will maintain a liquid well on the meter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

as r HARRY nnonsou. 

